Part 9

T_HE Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King, do upon their Oath present, that_ Stede Bonnet, _late of_ Barbadoes, _Mariner_, Robert Tucker, &c. &c. _The_ 2_d Day of_ August, _in the fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord_ George, &c. _By Force of Arms upon the High-Sea, in a certain Place called Cape_ James, &c. _did pyratically, and felloniously set upon, break,_ _board, and enter, a certain Merchant Sloop, called the_ Frances, Peter Manwaring _Commander, by Force_, &c. _upon the High-Sea, in a certain Place, called Cape_ James, alias _Cape_ Inlopen, _about two Miles distant from the Shore, in the Lattitude of_ 39, _or thereabouts; and within the Jurisdiction of the Court of Vice-Admiralty, of_ South-Carolina, _being a Sloop of certain Persons_, (_to the Jurors, unknown_) _and then, and there, pyratically, and felloniously did make an Assault, in, and upon the said_ Peter Manwaring, _and others his Mariners_, (_whose Names to the Jurors aforesaid, are unknown,) in the same Sloop, against the Peace of God, and of our said now Sovereign Lord the King, then, and there being, pyratically and felloniously, did put the aforesaid_ Peter Manwaring, _and others, his Mariners, of the same Sloop, in the Sloop aforesaid, then being, in corporal Fear of their Lives, then and there, in the Sloop aforesaid, upon the_ High-Sea, _in the Place aforesaid, called Cape_ James, alias _Cape_ Inlopen, _about two Miles from the Shore, in the Lattitude of_ 39, _or thereabouts, as aforesaid, and within the Jurisdiction aforesaid; pyratically, and felloniously, did steal, take, and carry away the said Merchant Sloop, called the_ Frances, _and also twenty six Hogsheads_, &c. &c. &c. _being found in the aforesaid Sloop, in the Custody and Possession of the said_ Peter Manwaring, _and others, his Mariners of the said Sloop, and from their Custody and Possession, then and there, upon the High-Sea aforesaid, called Cape_ James, alias _Cape_ Inlopen, _as aforesaid, and within the Jurisdiction aforesaid, against the Peace of our now Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity_.

This was the Form of the Indictments they were arraigned upon, and tho' they might have proved several more Facts upon the major Part of the Crew, the Court thought fit to prosecute but two; the other was for seizing in a pyratical and felonious Manner, the Sloop _Fortune, Thomas Read_ Commander; which Indictment running in the same Form with the above-mentioned, it will be unnecessary to say more of it.

All the Prisoners arraigned, pleaded Not Guilty, and put themselves upon their Tryals, except _James Wilson_, and _John Levit_, who pleaded Guilty to both Indictments, and _Daniel Perry_, to one only. The Major would have gone through both the Indictments at once, which the Court not admitting, he pleaded Not Guilty to both Indictments, but being convicted of one, he retracted his former Plea to the second Indictment, and pleaded Guilty to it.

The Prisoners made little or no Defence, every one pretending only that they were taken off a Maroon Shore, and were shipped with Major _Bonnet_ to go to St. _Thomas_'s; but being out at Sea, and wanting Provisions, they were obliged to do what they did by others; and so did Major _Bonnet_ himself, pretend that 'twas Force, not Inclination, that occasioned what had happened. However, the Facts being plainly proved, and that they had all shared ten or eleven Pounds a Man, excepting the three last, and _Thomas Nichols_, they were all but they, found Guilty. The Judge made a very grave Speech to them, setting forth _the Enormity of their Crimes, the Condition they were now in, and the Nature and Necessity of an unfeigned Repentance_; and then recommended them to the Ministers of the Province, for more ample Directions, to fit them for Eternity, _for_ (concluded he) _the Priest's Lips shall keep Knowledge, and you shall seek the Law at their Mouths; for they are the Messengers of the Lord_. Mat. II. 57. _And the Ambassadors of Christ, and unto them is committed the Word_ [or Doctrine] _of Reconciliation_, 2 Cor. V. 19. 20. And then pronounced Sentence of Death upon them.

On _Saturday November_ the 8th, 1711. _Robert Tucker, Edward Robinson, Neal Paterson, William Scot, Job Bayley, John-William Smith, John Thomas, William Morrison, Samuel Booth, William Hewit, William Eddy_, alias _Neddy, Alexander Annand, George Ross, George Dunkin, Matthew King, Daniel Perry, Henry Virgin, James Robbins, James Mullet_, alias _Millet, Thomas Price, John Lopez_, and _Zachariah Long_, were executed at the _White-Point_ near _Charles-Town_, pursuant to their Sentence.

As for the Captain, his Escape protracted his Fate, and spun out his Life a few Days longer, for he was try'd the 10th, and being found Guilty, received Sentence in like Manner as the former; before which Judge _Trot_, made a most excellent Speech to him, rather somewhat too long to be taken into our History, yet I could not tell how to pass by so good and useful a Piece of Instruction, not knowing whose Hands this Book may happen to fall into.

_The Lord Chief Justices's_ SPEECH, _upon his pronouncing Sentence on Major_ STEDE BONNET.

MAjor _Stede Bonnet_, you stand here convicted upon two Indictments of Pyracy; one by the Verdict of the Jury, and the other by your own Confession.

Altho' you were indicted but for _two_ Facts, yet you know that at your Tryal it was fully proved even by an unwilling Witness, that you _pyratically_ took and rifled no less than _thirteen_ Vessels, since you sail'd from _North-Carolina_.

So that you might have been indicted, and convicted of _eleven_ more Acts of _Pyracy_, since you took the Benefit of the King's _Act of Grace_, and pretended to leave that wicked Course of Life.

Not to mention the many _Acts_ of _Pyracy_ you committed before; for which if your Pardon from _Man_ was never so authentick, yet you must expect to answer for them before God.

You know that the Crimes you have committed are _evil_ in themselves, and contrary to the _Light_ and _Law_ of _Nature_, as well as the _Law_ of God, by which you are commanded that _you shall not steal_, Exod. 20. 15. And the Apostle St. _Paul_ expresly affirms, That _Thieves shall not inherit the Kingdom of God_, 1 Cor. 6. 10.

But to _Theft_ you have added a greater Sin, which is _Murder_. How many you may have _killed_ of those that resisted you in the committing your former _Pyracies_, I know not: But this we all know, That besides the Wounded, you kill'd no less than _eighteen_ Persons out of those that were sent by lawful Authority to suppress you, and put a Stop to those Rapines that you daily acted.

And however you may fancy that that was killing Men fairly in open _Fight_, yet this know, that the Power of the _Sword_ not being committed into your Hands by any lawful Authority, you were not impowered to use any _Force_, or _fight_ any one; and therefore those Persons that fell in that Action, in doing their Duty to their King and Country, were _murdered_, and their _Blood_ now cries out for _Vengeance_ and _Justice_ against you: For it is the _Voice of Nature_, confirmed by the _Law_ of God, That _whosoever sheddeth Man's Blood, by Man shall his Blood be shed_. Gen. 9. 6.

And consider that Death is not the only Punishment due to _Murderers_; for they are threatened to have _their Part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone, which is the second Death_, Rev. 21. 8. See _Chap._ 22. 15. Words which carry that Terror with them, that considering your Circumstances and your Guilt, surely the Sound of them must make you tremble; _For who can dwell with everlasting Burnings?_ Chap. 33. 14.

As the _Testimony_ of your _Conscience_ must convince you of the great and many Evils you have committed, by which you have highly offended God, and provoked most justly his Wrath and Indignation against you, so I suppose I need not tell you that the only Way of obtaining Pardon and Remission of your Sins from God, is by a true and unfeigned _Repentance_ and _Faith_ in Christ, by whose meritorious Death and Passion, you can only hope for Salvation.

You being a Gentleman that have had the Advantage of a _liberal Education_, and being generally esteemed a Man of _Letters_, I believe it will be needless for me to explain to you the Nature of _Repentance_ and _Faith_ in Christ, they being so fully and so often mentioned in the Scriptures, that you cannot but know them. And therefore, perhaps, for that Reason it might be thought by some improper for me to have said so much to you, as I have already upon this Occasion; neither should I have done it, but that considering the Course of your Life and Actions, I have just Reason to fear, that the Principles of Religion that had been instilled into you by your _Education_, have been at least corrupted, if not entirely defaced, by the _Scepticism_ and _Infidelity_ of this wicked Age; and that what Time you allowed for Study, was rather applied to the _Polite Literature_, and the vain _Philosophy_ of the Times, than a serious Search after the _Law_ and _Will_ of God, as revealed unto us in the Holy _Scriptures_: For _had your Delight been in the Law of the Lord, and that you had meditated therein Day and Night_, Psal. 1. 2. you would then have found that God's _Word was a Lamp unto your Feet, and a Light to your Path_, Psal. 119. 105. and that you would account all other Knowledge but _Loss_, in Comparison of _the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus_, Phil. 3. 8. _who to them that are called is the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God_, 1 Cor. 1. 24. _even the hidden Wisdom which God ordained before the World_, Chap. 2. 7.

You would then have esteemed the _Scriptures_ as the _Great Charter_ of Heaven, and which delivered to us not only the most perfect _Laws_ and _Rules_ of Life, but also discovered to us the Acts of _Pardon_ from God, wherein they have offended those righteous Laws: For in them only is to be found the great _Mystery_ of fallen Man's _Redemption, which the Angels desire to look into_, 1 Pet. 1. 12.

And they would have taught you that _Sin_ is the debasing of _Human Nature_, as being a _Derivation_ from that _Purity, Rectitude_, and _Holiness_, in which God created us, and that _Virtue_ and _Religion_, and walking by the Laws of God, were altogether preferable to the Ways of _Sin_ and _Satan_; for that the _Ways_ of Virtue are _Ways of Pleasantness, and all their Paths are Peace_, Prov. 3. 17.

But what you could not learn from God's Word, by reason of your _carelesly_, or but _superficially_ considering the same, I hope the Course of his _Providence_, and the present _Afflictions_ that he hath laid upon you, hath now convinced you of the same: For however in your seeming Prosperity you might make a _Mock at your Sins_ Prov. 3. 17. yet now that you see that God's Hand hath reached you, and brought you to publick Justice, I hope your present unhappy Circumstances hath made you seriously reflect upon your past Actions and Course of Life; and that you are now sensible of the Greatness of your Sins, and that you find the Burden of them is intolerable.

And that therefore being thus _labouring, and heavy laden with Sin_, Mat. 11. 28. you will esteem that as the most valuable _Knowledge_, that can shew you how you can be reconciled to that Supreme God that you have so highly offended; and that can reveal to you Him who is not only the powerful _Advocate with the Father for you_, 1 John 2. 1. but also who hath paid that Debt that is due for your Sins by his own Death upon the Cross for you; and thereby made full Satisfaction for the Justice of God. And this is to be found no where but in God's Word, which discovers to us that _Lamb of God which takes away the Sins of the World_, John 1. 29. which is _Christ_ the Son of God: For this know, and be assured, _that there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be saved_, Acts 4. 12. but only by the Name of the Lord _Jesus_.

But then consider how he invites all Sinners to come unto him, and, _that he will give them rest_, Matt. 11. 28. for he assures us, _that he came to seek and to save that which was lost_, Luke 19. 10, Mat. 18. 11. and hath promised, _that he that cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out_, John 6. 37.

So that if now you will sincerely turn to him, tho' late, even at the _eleventh Hour_, Mat. 20. 6, 9. he will receive you.

But surely I need not tell you, that the _Terms_ of his _Mercy_ is _Faith_ and _Repentance_.

And do not mistake the _Nature_ of Repentance to be only a bare Sorrow for your Sins, arising from the Consideration of the _Evil_ and _Punishment_ they have now brought upon you; but your Sorrow must arise from the Consideration of your having offended a gracious and merciful God.

But I shall not pretend to give you any particular Directions as to the Nature of Repentance: I consider that I speak to a Person, whose Offences have proceeded not so much from his not _knowing_, as his _slighting_ and _neglecting_ his _Duty_: Neither is it proper for me to give Advice out of the Way of my own Profession.

You may have that better delivered to you by those who have made Divinity their particular Study; and who, by their Knowledge, as well as their Office, as being the _Ambassadors of Christ_, 2 Cor. 5. 20. are best qualified to give you Instructions therein.

I only heartily wish, that what, in Compassion to your Soul, I have now said to you upon this sad and solemn Occasion, by exhorting you in general to _Faith_ and _Repentance_, may have that due Effect upon you, that thereby you may become a true _Penitent_.

And therefore having now discharged my Duty to you as a _Christian_, by giving you the best Counsel I can, with respect to the Salvation of your Soul, I must now do my Office as a _Judge_.

The _Sentence_ that the Law hath appointed to pass upon you for your Offences, and which this Court doth therefore award, is,

* * *

_That you, the said_ Stede Bonnet, _shall go from hence to the Place from whence you came, and from thence to the Place of Execution, where you shall be hanged by the Neck till you are dead_.

_And the God of infinite Mercy be merciful to your Soul_.

CHAP. V. OF Capt. _Edward England_, And his CREW.

E_Dward England_ went Mate of a Sloop that sail'd out of _Jamaica_, and was taken by Captain _Winter_, a Pyrate, just before their Settlement at _Providence_; from whence _England_ had the Command of a Sloop in the same laudable Employment: It is surprizing that Men of good Understanding should engage in a Course of Life, that so much debases humane Nature, and sets them upon a Level with the wild Beasts of the Forest, who live and prey upon their weaker Fellow Creatures: A Crime so enormous! That it includes almost all others, as Murder, Rapine, Theft, Ingratitude, _&c._ and tho' they make these Vices familiar to them by their daily Practice, yet these Men are so inconsistent with themselves, that a Reflection made upon their Honour, their Justice, or their Courage, is look'd upon as an Offence that ought to be punished with the Life of him that commits it: _England_ was one of these Men, who seem'd to have such a Share of Reason, as should have taught him better Things. He had a great deal of good Nature, and did not want for Courage; he was not avaritious, and always averse to the ill Usage Prisoners received: He would have been contented with moderate Plunder, and less mischievous Pranks, could his Companions have been brought to the same Temper, but he was generally over-rul'd, and as he was engaged in that abominable Society, he was obliged to be a Partner in all their vile Actions.

Captain _England_ sail'd to the Coast of _Africa_, after the Island of _Providence_ was settled by the _English_ Government, and the Pyrates surrendered to his Majesty's Proclamation; and took several Ships and Vessels, particularly the _Cadogan_ Snow belonging to _Bristol_, at _Sierraleone_, one _Skinner_ Master, who was inhumanly murthered by some of the Crew, that had lately been his own Men, and served in the said Vessel. It seems some Quarrel had happened between them, so that _Skinner_ thought fit to remove these Fellows on Board of a Man of War, and at the same Time refused them their Wages; not long after they found Means to desert that Service, and shipping themselves aboard a Sloop in the _West-Indies_, was taken by a Pyrate, and brought to _Providence_, and sailed upon the same Account along with Captain _England_.

Assoon as _Skinner_ had struck to the Pyrate, he was ordered to come on Board in his Boat, which he did, and the Person that he first cast his Eye upon, proved to be his old Boatswain, who star'd him in the Face like his evil Genius, and accosted him in this Manner.-- _Ah, Captain_ Skinner! _Is it you? The only Man I wished to see; I am much in your Debt, and now I shall pay you all in your own Coin_.

The poor Man trembled every Joint, when he found into what Company he had fallen, and dreaded the Event, as he had Reason enough so to do; for the Boatswain immediately called to his Consorts, laid hold of the Captain, and made him fast to the Windless, and there pelted him with Glass Bottles, which cut him in a sad Manner; after which they whipp'd him about the Deck, till they were weary, being deaf to all his Prayers and Intreaties, and at last, because he had been a good Master to his Men, they said, he should have an easy Death, and so shot him thro' the Head. They took some few Things out of the Snow, but gave the Vessel and all her Cargo to _Howel Davis_ the Mate; and the rest of the Crew, as will be hereafter mentioned in the Chapter of Captain _Davis_.

Captain _England_ took a Ship called the _Pearl_, Captain _Tyzard_ Commander, for which he exchanged his own Sloop, fitted her up for the pyratical Account, and new christen'd her, the _Royal James_, with which he took several Ships and Vessels of different Nations at the _Azores_ and _Cape de Verd Islands_.

In the Spring, 1719, the Rovers returned to _Africa_, and beginning at the River _Gambia_, sailed all down the Coast; and between that and _Cape Corso_, took the following Ships and Vessels.

The _Eagle_ Pink, Captain _Rickets_ Commander belonging to _Cork_, taken the 25th of _March_, having 6 Guns and 17 Men on Board, seven of which turned Pyrates.

The _Charlotte_, Captain _Oldson_, of _London_, taken _May_ the 26th, having 8 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 13 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Sarah_, Captain _Stunt_, of _London_, taken the 27th of _May_, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 3 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Bentworth_, Captain _Gardener_, of _Bristol_, taken the 27th of _May_, having 12 Guns and 30 Men on Board, 12 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Buck_ Sloop, Captain _Sylvester_, of _Gambia_, taken the 27th of _May_, having 2 Guns and 2 Men on Board, and both turned Pyrates.

The _Carteret_, Captain _Snow_, of _London_, taken the 28th of _May_, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 5 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Mercury_, Captain _Maggott_, of _London_, taken the 29th of _May_, having 4 Guns and 18 Men on Board, 5 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Coward_ Galley, Captain _Creed_, of _London_, taken the 17th of _June_, having 2 Guns and 13 Men on Board, 4 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Elizabeth_ and _Katherine_, Captain _Bridge_ of _Barbadoes_, taken _June_ the 27th, having 6 Guns and 14 Men on Board, 4 of which turned Pyrates.

The _Eagle_ Pink being bound to _Jamaica_, the _Sarah_ to _Virginia_, and the _Buck_ to _Maryland_, they let them go, but the _Charlotte_, the _Bentworth_, the _Carteret_, and the _Coward_ Galley, they burnt; and the _Mercury_, and the _Elizabeth_ and _Katherine_ were fitted up for Pyrate Ships, the former was new nam'd _Queen Ann_'s _Revenge_, and commanded by one _Lane_, and the other was call'd the _Flying King_, of which _Robert Sample_ was appointed Captain. These two left _England_ upon the Coast, sail'd to the _West-Indies_, where they took some Prizes, clean'd, and sail'd to _Brasil_ in _November_; they took several _Portuguese_ Ships there, and did a great deal of Mischief, but in the height of their Undertakings, a _Portuguese_ Man of War, which was an excellent Sailor, came a very unwelcome Guest to them, and gave them Chace; the Queen _Ann's Revenge_ got off, but was lost a little while after upon that Coast; and the _Flying King_, giving herself over for lost, ran ashore: There were then 70 Men on Board, 12 of which were kill'd, and the rest taken Prisoners, of whom the _Portuguese_ hang'd 38, of which 32 were _English_, three _Dutch_, two _French_, and one of their own Nation.

_England_, in going down the Coast, took the _Peterborough_ Galley of _Bristol_, Captain _Owen_; and the _Victory_, Captain _Ridout_; the former they detained, but plundered the latter, and let her go. In _Cape Corso_ Road, they saw two Sail at Anchor, but before they could reach them, they slipp'd their Cables and got close under _Cape Corso Castle_, these were the _Whydah_, Captain _Prince_, and the _John_, Captain _Rider_: The Pyrates upon this made a fire Ship of a Vessel they had lately taken, and attempted to burn them, as tho' they had been a common Enemy, which if effected, they could not have been one Farthing the better for it; but the Castle firing warmly upon them, they withdrew, and sail'd down to _Whydah_ Road, where they found another Pyrate, one Captain _la Bouche_, who getting thither before _England_ arrived, had forestall'd the Market, and greatly disappointed their Brethren.

Captain _England_, after this Baulk, went into a Harbour, clean'd his own Ship, and fitted up the _Peterborough_, which he call'd the _Victory_; they liv'd there very wantonly for several Weeks, making free with the Negroe Women, and committing such outragious Acts, that they came to an open Rupture with the Natives, several of whom they kill'd, and one of their Towns they set on Fire.

When the Pyrates came out to Sea, they put it to a Vote what Voyage to take, and the Majority carrying it for the _East-Indies_, they shap'd their Course accordingly, and arrived at _Madagascar_, the Beginning of the Year 1720. They staid not long there, but after taking in Water and Provisions, sail'd for the Coast of _Malabar_, which is a fine fruitful Country in the _East-Indies_, in the Empire of the _Mogul_, but immediately subject to its own Princes: It reaches from the Coast of _Canara_ to _Cape Camorin_, which is between 7° 30, and 12° North Lattitude, and in about 75° East Longitude, counting from the Meridian of _London_. The old Natives are Pagans, but there are a great Number of _Mahometans_ inhabiting among them, who are Merchants, and generally rich. On the same Coast, but in a Province to the Northward lies _Goa, Surat, Bombay_, where the _English, Dutch_, and _Portuguese_ have Settlements.

Hither our Pyrates came, having made a Tour of half the Globe, as the Psalmist says of the Devils, _Going about like roaring Lions, seeking whom they might devour_. They took several Country Ships, that is, _Indian_ Vessels, and one European, a _Dutch_ Ship, which they exchanged for one of their own, and then came back to _Madagascar_.

They sent several of their Hands on Shore with Tents, Powder, and Shot, to kill Hogs, Venison, and such other fresh Provision as the Island afforded, and a Whim came into their Heads to seek out for the Remains of _Avery_'s Crew, whom they knew to be settled somewhere in the Island.--Accordingly some of them travell'd several Days Journey, without hearing any Intelligence of them, and so were forc'd to return with the Loss of their Labour, for these Men were settled on the other Side of the Island, as has been taken Notice of under the Chapter of _Avery_.